diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b8f9513..df19e0c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 ### Added
 
 ### Changed
+11Feb2026:
+- scaling nc-diag absorber (water) output
+
 06Feb2026:
 - revive knob for aerosol-affected radiances (zero-diff when not used)
 
diff --git a/GEOSaana_GridComp/GSI_GridComp/setuprad.f90 b/GEOSaana_GridComp/GSI_GridComp/setuprad.f90
index f9f77da..3b5e1c1 100755
--- a/GEOSaana_GridComp/GSI_GridComp/setuprad.f90
+++ b/GEOSaana_GridComp/GSI_GridComp/setuprad.f90
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ subroutine setuprad(obsLL,odiagLL,lunin,mype,aivals,stats,nchanl,nreal,nobs,&
       n_clouds_fwd_wk,n_absorbers
   use crtm_interface, only: iedge_log
   use crtm_interface, only: ilzen_ang2,iscan_ang2,iszen_ang2,isazi_ang2, ilazi_ang2
+  use crtm_module, only: H2O_ID
   use clw_mod, only: calc_clw, ret_amsua, gmi_37pol_diff,mhs_si
   use qcmod, only: qc_ssmi,qc_seviri,qc_abi,qc_ssu,qc_avhrr,qc_goesimg,qc_msu,qc_irsnd,qc_amsua,qc_mhs,qc_atms
   use qcmod, only: igood_qc,ifail_gross_qc,ifail_interchan_qc,ifail_crtm_qc,ifail_satinfo_qc,qc_noirjaco3,ifail_cloud_qc
@@ -2664,6 +2665,9 @@ subroutine contents_netcdf_diag_(odiags,idv,iob)
                  call nc_diag_metadata("SST_Cool_layer_tdrop",     sngl(data_s(idtc,n))              )       ! dt_cool at zob
                  call nc_diag_metadata("SST_dTz_dTfound",          sngl(data_s(itz_tr,n))            )       ! d(Tz)/d(Tr)
 
+                 if (abi) then
+                    call nc_diag_metadata("standard_deviation_clear_bt", sngl(tb_obs_sdv(ich_diag(i)))  )     ! tb_obs_sdv (K)
+                 endif
                  call nc_diag_metadata("Observation",                   sngl(tb_obs(ich_diag(i)))  )     ! observed brightness temperature (K)
                  call nc_diag_metadata("Obs_Minus_Forecast_adjusted",   sngl(tbc0(ich_diag(i)  ))  )     ! observed - simulated Tb with bias corrrection (K)
                  call nc_diag_metadata("Obs_Minus_Forecast_unadjusted", sngl(tbcnob(ich_diag(i)))  )     ! observed - simulated Tb with no bias correction (K)
@@ -2775,7 +2779,11 @@ subroutine contents_netcdf_diag_(odiags,idv,iob)
 
                     do iabsorb = 1, n_absorbers
                        write (fieldname, "(A,I0.2)") "atmosphere_absorber_", atmosphere(1)%absorber_id(iabsorb)
-                       call nc_diag_data2d(trim(fieldname), sngl(atmosphere(1)%absorber(:,iabsorb)))  ! check %absorber_units
+                       if (atmosphere(1)%absorber_id(iabsorb) == H2O_ID) then
+                         call nc_diag_data2d(trim(fieldname), sngl(atmosphere(1)%absorber(:,iabsorb)/1000.0))  ! check %absorber_units
+                       else
+                         call nc_diag_data2d(trim(fieldname), sngl(atmosphere(1)%absorber(:,iabsorb)))  ! check %absorber_units
+                       endif
                     enddo
                     do icloud = 1, n_clouds_fwd_wk
                        write (fieldname, "(A,I0.2)") "atmosphere_mass_content_of_cloud_", atmosphere(1)%Cloud(icloud)%Type